National Republican., 1887-04-02
A YOUNG PATRIOT.
An Adventurous Climb to Nail Fast
tho Flag.
boston Transcript !


"You have set the fashion Of telling home
war Stories" writes correspondent Of the
Listener, '!and have one to offer you that
am quite sure has never been in print
before. Its scene was village in the town
OF Sandwich, where they happened to have
considerable number OF copperheads. The
mIss OF the people there were intensely
loyal, perhaps oil the more SO on account
OF the presence OF these opponents Of the
war, aud the copperheads had frequent
occasion to make certain outward signs Of
loyalty, even II they did not feel the senti
meut inwsrdly.
"'Ilang out your nag tonight man
would say to another as he passed by shop
door.
~ don't zee any reason why i should
hang out my lug,' the man In the shop
''llaug out your nag to night Just the
fame,' the other would say again.
"RuJ aiu't got any Nay, anyway
''Ilang out your flag to-night' the word
came sgain, aud the man who had served
the notice passed on quietly.
hung out.
Every town had liberty pole then,
upon witch the linton flag was kept flying,
often day aud night. The liberty pole at
Sandwich was very lofty, and was Ia two
pieces, with small cheats or foot pieces
nailed on 80 tnat II might be climbed Ia
case ot ueed. AT the top of the lower sec
tun Of the pole, where 1t Joined the top
mast, there was cross tree. The rope
which ran up the flag aud held 1t In its
pla,e was mane fast at the cross tree
"One morning, wheu the people Of Sand
wicn got up, ey found The flag that had
b. Gu ilytug proudly at the top OF the liberty
pole lying Ia the dust OF the street 1t han
been pulled down by some eopperhead In
the night, and basely dlshonored, 1t wac
busted aud ran up to the top again amid
cheers.
"rhere It flew all day, but next morning
1t was agaiu found 10 the dust, while d
shameful object, no less revolving than tht
figure uf dead cat, bung head downward,
hai taken Its place at ina top OF the pole.
"rntn youi & man Of the village, mert
s'ripiiur, came running up as the crowC
athrred Ia horror aud indignation, with ,
bdtchet IN his hand, and picked up the hsp
from the grouud. he climbed the pole
With the flag wrapped around his shoulders
Up he went, rested moment at the cross
tree, where ever, body expected to see hin
try To ruu do w the object at the top anC
run up The flag; but 10 au Instant he stlrtet
up again, climbing tho swaying topmas
uuLlI ue TthCutu tuo very
Here he loet no time In cutting loost
with blow the object which hung there
and 1t came crashing down. Next he Gu
loose the rope itself, aud the peopl'
wondered what he was doing. Tney saw
presently, for 10 a minute he had the inne
edge OF tue llag against the pole. aud with
nails that he took from bis pocket he wa
Mating the Il ~ to the mast with the bacl
OF his hatchet When that work Wa
thoroughly done, aud the fag fappe'
again in the breeze, amid the cneer
OF the people below, the boy begal
10 descend. And then 1t was plain that b.
had new use for his hatchei
Tor, as he came down he knocked of Gle a
by clett the little pieces upon which hi
own feet had climbed the pole. One afte
another they fell Off, and the blows OF th
hsichet lett the pole as smooth aud clesi
~ before these pieces had been tackled on
Again be rested at the crosstree, and agai
began descending, knocking Off every piec
as fast as be left it, aud when he jumped
upon the ground not only Was the Uniol
nag flying proudly at the top OF the pol,
but its removal had been put hey ond hnma
ingenuity and agility.
"rhe nag hung there amid the storm
until long afterward, II had beaten itse
into shreds Aud the people OF Sandwic
were prouder OF the tattered flag than the
would have been OF any new one that coul
have been raised, for IL told them a story {
patriotism aud bravery.
"lt Is not much wonder that the yout
who nailed this flag TO the mast became
trusted aud active citizen In the wester
state TO which he Afterward removed, an
was named not long ago for one OF th
highest Official honors OF that AtAts. III